If, Then

Book excerpt: 'A gorgeous literary novel that asks us to imagine all the possible versions of ourselves that we can imagine' J COURTNEY SULLIVAN 'A suburban srama build to leap form page to screen' Kirkus Reviews 'Fascinating and moving' EOWYN IVEY ----------------------- In a sleepy Oregon town at the base of a dormant volcano, four neighbours find their lives upended when they see visions of themselves in an alternate reality, and have to question the choices they’ve made as natural disaster looms. For fans of Celeste Ng's LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE and TV serial SIX FEET UNDER. In the shadow of a dormant volcano in Oregon lies a small town much like any other – though mistier perhaps, and greener. Look closely and you’ll see four neighbours plagued by strange visions. Ginny, a devoted surgeon, is troubled by thoughts of a beautiful colleague in her bed. Mark, a wildlife scientist, foresees imminent and devastating natural disaster. Cass, a brilliant scholar struggling with the demands of a small baby, envisages herself pregnant once more – just as she is returning to her game-changing research. And then there’s Samara, a young estate agent, who glimpses images of her dead mother alive again, healthy and vibrant. As the volcano begins to rumble, it becomes clear that these visions mean more than at first it seemed, and that the fate of this close-knit community hangs in the balance.